January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. Cervical Cancer is primarily caused by HPV—this stands for Human Papilloma Virus. Currently, in the United States alone, there are 80 million people infected with HPV, and 14 million more become infected each year.

Fall in the tri-state means cooler weather, and cooler weather makes me think about soup. Soup is warm and comforting but also convenient and a great way to add vegetables to your diet. (Recipes included.)

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, killing more Americans than breast, prostate and colon cancer combined. Fortunately, there is a screening tool available for those at risk for lung cancer, but many people don’t take advantage of this option.

Eating a diet filled with fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains is great for our health, but can sometimes lead to bloating, gas, and other abdominal discomfort. Learn tips on making healthy food choices while still being able to go out in public.

Information about healthy eating seems to be everywhere. As a clinical dietitian, I help patients identify food that contributes to better health, disease management, and a healthy approach to weight loss. Over time, I found that the majority of patients have success using the Mediterranean diet.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t have time to be sick with the flu. A week or more of serious body aches, coughing, fever, etc. is not how I want to spend my time. Be prepared by getting your flu vaccine before flu season starts!

Unfortunately, cancer often causes pain, making an already difficult journey even worse. The good news, however, is pain that is caused by cancer can be treated. Once under control, patients experience a better quality of life.

Here at Deaconess, people make decisions on others’ behalf every single day. Sometimes the situation is sudden, such as after a car crash. In other situations, a family member has been in a gradual decline. But in all circumstances it can be a difficult time, so having the right information, with the desired decision-makers, is crucial.

It’s never been easier to schedule an appointment with a Deaconess doctor or service. Online scheduling is convenient, helps busy families and people on the go, and improves access to the care you need--when and where you need it.

About 20 million United States citizens get a sexually transmitted infection each year, with 15 to 24-year-olds accounting for half of all new STIs. Protecting yourself against sexually transmitted infections is important and should be achieved not through fear, but rather education.

Endometriosis is a common condition in which part of the uterine lining or glands are located outside of the uterus. Typically the glandular tissue is located in the pelvis and abdomen. The most common symptoms of endometriosis are painful menstrual cycles, pain with intercourse, infertility or an ovarian mass. Learn about the most common treatments for Endometriosis.

When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, she has many needs and concerns. One of the most important things she wants to know is that she’ll get the best care, beginning as quickly as possible. That’s why The Women’s Hospital and Deaconess Cancer Services decided to develop the Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Clinic.

Melanie Atwood, Executive Director of Gilda’s Club of Evansville, part of Cancer Support Community

An expanded relationship between Gilda’s Club and Deaconess Cancer Services will help cancer patients and their families receive important support services. Gilda’s on the Go will bring healthy lifestyle programs and activities directly to patients at the Chancellor Center for Oncology.

Perhaps you’ve heard the term “palliative care” but weren’t sure what it meant. Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with chronic illnesses, focusing on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of a chronic illness regardless of the diagnosis. The overall goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.

Your doctors’ appointments are an important and valuable time to connect with your doctor, share your perspective and information, and learn from your doctor’s expertise. The best appointments happen when patients are very prepared.

Recent national disasters have caused many people to give more thought to emergency preparedness. As September is Emergency Preparedness Month, it’s a great time to be thinking about being disaster ready.

Cancer screening recommendations can be confusing for many people--in my 20 years of practicing primary care medicine for adults, thousands of patients have had questions about various cancer screenings.

You’ve heard that colon cancer screening saves lives. In this article, a patient shares his story about how a routine colonoscopy may’ve saved his life at the age of 61. He and his doctor together explain what a colonoscopy is, and why it’s important.

There are a many questions regarding hospice, such as, “What services are included?”, “How is it paid for?”, and more. Below are answers to some of these most common questions, as well as additional information about why hospice is a wonderful service and resource for families when a loved one has a terminal condition.

Earlier this month, Deaconess celebrated National Cancer Survivors Day with a special party for cancer survivors and their family and friends. We celebrated because being a cancer survivor is a special thing!

March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month, so we are working to increase awareness about the importance of colon cancer screening. Did you know that only 4 in 10 cases of colon cancer are diagnosed at early stages?

According to recent studies, it’s believed that up to 1/3 of cancers can be prevented through specific actions and lifestyle modifications. Learn what the four most preventable cancers are and what you can do to lower your risk.

Learning that you or someone you love has cancer is a life-changing moment. After hearing the word “cancer,” people are often overwhelmed, anxious and fearful. You may feel paralyzed and numb, not knowing what to do next. There are many aspects to preparing for your cancer journey—medical, financial, physical, and emotional.

Kathy Dockery, Director of the Deaconess Breast Center and Sally Britt, Community Outreach Coordinator for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Evansville/Tri-State affiliate talk about resources for women with breast cancer.

We’ve come a long way with cervical cancer. Cervical cancer used to be the number one cancer killer of American women. That number has gone down in recent years due to improved screening methods, but there are still improvements to be made.

Mary Gaffney, RN and Nurse Navigator at the Chancellor Center for Oncology​

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. An annual test for lung cancer intended for long-term smokers (Low dose CT) is now offered by Deaconess Hospital and can help detect lung cancer at its earliest, most-treatable stages.

More than 143,000 new colorectal (colon and rectum) cancer cases are diagnosed in the US each year, and 52,000 Americans die each year from the disease. Colon cancer is responsible for 9% of all cancer deaths, and it is the most commonly occurring cancer in both men and women after lung cancer according to the National Cancer Institute.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it is estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. People of all races can develop skin cancer. However, certain people are more likely to develop skin cancer. Some skin cancer risk factors include: